The Revolutionary War was considered a "civil war"; people were more likely to shoot at their neighbors during this war than during the Civil War in 1861. Beginning with the Battle at Lexington and Concord the colonists in the United States fought the British for their independence. Their original goal was for better treatment but they quickly realized independence was the only way to guarantee preferential treatment. The fighting lasted six years and ended with the Battle of Yorktown. Listed below are several of the most important battles during the war:
During the war, neither side had a real strategy for war, this was the first time the colonists has fought. Throughout the war, strategies became more clear, especially on the British side. They tried to turn all Indians and slaves against the colonists. They also decided to recruit more soldiers and get more fleets.
Listed below are several of the most important battles during the war:
The Battle at Lexington was the first battle of the American Revolution. When the British reached Lexington they were met by 70 minutemen. Minutemen - men ready to fight at a moment's notice; militia of the colonies. The battle only lasted 15 minutes.
The British marched on to Concord to capture the colonists weapons. The colonists did not register their guns so the British found no weapons. The minutemen were waiting for the British and slaughtered many of them.
The Battle Of Bunker Hill (Breed's Hill) began on June 17th, 1775. The colonists escalated the war here when they sieged Boston.
On December 26, 1776 George Washington attacked the Hessians at Trenton. He took his men and crossed the Delaware River. The battle lasted about an hour and George Washington won.
The Battle at Princeton on January 3, 1777, was also a short clash that ended with an American victory. The British general Cornwallis waited until dawn to attack Washington; this proved to be a deadly mistake. Washington's men didn't wait the night and killed many of Cornwallis' men.
The Battle at Saratoga was a turning point of the American Revolution, occurring on October 7, 1777. After the British General John Burgoyne took Ticonderoga, little went right for the British. At Saratoga, Burgoyne surrendered to the American Army led by General Gates and General Benedict Arnold. This was the first major American victory of the war, inflicting 600 British losses and only 150 American losses. It was during this ten-day battle that both the British and the Americans realized that the colonists actually had a chance at winning this war. This battle convinced the French to aid the Americans in the war.
The Battle of Yorktown was the last major engagement of the Revolutionary War, occurring on October 7, 1781. Washington's army, two French armies, and a French fleet trapped Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown and forced his army to surrender.
The Battles of the American Revolution
The Revolutionary War was considered a "civil war"; people were more likely to shoot at their neighbors during this war than during the Civil War in 1861. Beginning with the Battle at Lexington and Concord the colonists in the United States fought the British for their independence. Their original goal was for better treatment but they quickly realized independence was the only way to guarantee preferential treatment. The fighting lasted six years and ended with the Battle of Yorktown. Listed below are several of the most important battles during the war:
During the war, neither side had a real strategy for war, this was the first time the colonists has fought. Throughout the war, strategies became more clear, especially on the British side. They tried to turn all Indians and slaves against the colonists. They also decided to recruit more soldiers and get more fleets.
Listed below are several of the most important battles during the war: